Sarah Palin coming to Dover High Wednesday

DOVER — The staff at Dover High School was given the heads up that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, plans to hold a town hall-style event at the school on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

By ADAM D. KRAUSS

fosters.com

By ADAM D. KRAUSS

Posted Oct. 10, 2008 at 3:15 AM
Updated Oct 10, 2008 at 2:18 PM

By ADAM D. KRAUSS

Posted Oct. 10, 2008 at 3:15 AM
Updated Oct 10, 2008 at 2:18 PM

DOVER — The staff at Dover High School was given the heads up that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, plans to hold a town hall-style event at the school on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The stop will mark Palin's first appearance in New Hampshire as a candidate — if not ever — and is expected to draw up to 500 people from Dover and beyond, according to an e-mail Principal Deborah Migneault sent to staff.

Palin's visit falls on the heels of her husband, Todd, being in the state Saturday, when the snowmobile racer is set to take in the Grass Drags and Water Crossing event in Fremont, according to the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association.

He's also set to visit parts of Maine as part of the campaign's ramped-up effort in the state, according to published reports.

The campaign for GOP nominee Sen. John McCain confirmed it was working on visits for Palin in Dover and Laconia.

Migneault's e-mail said doors will open by 9 a.m. for the approximately 11 a.m., hour-long event, which will have a "limited number of seats" for students and staff. The campaign confirmed it will be open to people who have a ticket. More details are expected soon.

State Republicans welcomed news of Palin's impending arrival, and one public opinion expert said her visit comes as McCain can use the extra help in his fight against the Democrat's nominee, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

"If anything, McCain has been sliding in New Hampshire," said Andy Smith, director of the Survey Center at the University of New Hampshire, citing recent national surveys. "By sending Palin, it's designed to boost the morale of Republicans who may see McCain's chances of winning the presidency slipping away."

Smith said he doesn't expect Palin to make any policy announcements, but lean on the type of speech she's been barnstorming battleground states with of late. He said expect a rally atmosphere.

Palin, who in 2006 became the first woman to be elected governor in Alaska, doesn't need to talk policy to have a good event, one top Republican said.

"A huge part of her appeal is that she relates to ordinary Americans, and ordinary Republicans relate to her," said state GOP Chairman Fergus Cullen.

That's especially helpful, he said, since "I'm not sure that many Americans relate to the Obamas or even can relate to John McCain's life story. I wasn't shot down. I wasn't held prisoner of war for five 1⁄2 years. I didn't go through that transformational experience. ...

"So when she talks about balancing a career and raising five kids, tens of thousands of New Hampshire family's nod their heads up and down."

Palin's visit could provide a shot in the arm for other Republican candidates, including U.S. Sen. John Sununu and former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley, Smith said.

"We're excited to have her in New Hampshire," Cullen said. "There's been a lot of pent-up enthusiasm about seeing her in person. ... She brings a huge amount of energy to our base, and the more the Democrats go after her the more our base rallies to her."

Cullen said Palin's visit underscores the importance of the Granite State in choosing the next president. "The most precious resource a campaign has is the candidate's time, and they don't waste it in states that aren't competitive."

A self-described "hockey mom" and political maverick, Palin has an opportunity to win over voters who are anxious to see her, said Mike Dennehy, a senior political adviser to McCain from Concord.

But he didn't characterize the New Hampshire visit as a key test for her considering the state's reputation for vetting candidates. "I don't think you get more of a pivotal test than going into a debate," he said. "She's been having these kind of town-hall meetings and rallies across the country, so I think New Hampshire is a good fit for Sarah Palin."

Phyllis Woods, chairwoman of the Strafford County Republican Committee, said Palin has energized the party and is making good on a commitment to visit all 50 states.

"I certainly think that she's beneficial to the ticket, but ... even without Sarah Palin, McCain has surprised all of the polls and the pundits the last two times he ran in New Hampshire," she said.